Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde today ordered the immediate firing of several high-ranking police officers based in Negros Oriental in connection with the deaths of 14 farmers in the province over the weekend.
Those police officers were identified as Negros Oriental Provincial Director Colonel Raul Tacaca, Canlaon City Police Chief Patricio Degay, Manjuyod Municipal Police Station Chief Kevin Roy Mamaradlo, and Santa Catalina Police Chief Michael Rubia, SunStar reported.
According to Rappler, the cops were relieved from their post to make way for an investigation into the joint police and military operation on Saturday that left the 14 farmers dead.
The PNP’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management and its Internal Affairs Department will conduct the investigation.
Negros Oriental’s PNP alleged that those killed were members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and that they were shot after they allegedly opened fire against the arresting officers, The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. The farmers were residents of Canlaon City, Manjuyod, and Sta. Catalina, all of which are located in Negros Oriental.
The farmers were killed by the authorities because they allegedly resisted arrest when they were about to be served warrants for illegal possession of firearms and explosives. However, their families said that they were not members of the NPA and that the farmers were shot dead by the authorities despite being unarmed.
The Commission on Human Rights is already conducting an investigation into the incident, GMA News reported.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s Spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday that the deaths of the farmers were part of a legitimate police operation, Manila Standard reported.
Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año assured the cops who were part of the controversial operation that they will receive legal assistance if necessary.
“We stand by our police officers and we will provide them with the best legal defense to help them overcome whatever legal challenges that may arise as a result of several Negros Oriental operations,” he said.
Año also said that claims by activist groups that the incident was a massacre are just part of a “typical disinformation and propaganda campaign” against the government.
